Emirates FA Cup
Squires Gate 2-5 Handsworth Parramore
Record breakers: Handsworth Parramore line up prior to the Emirates FA Cup victory over Squires Gate
Three goals in the final six minutes propelled Handsworth into the second qualifying round for the first ever time.
In a measured start to the game, with both sides testing each other out, the first chance fell the way of Alex Rippon but the wide man’s shot lacked power and was easily saved by home keeper Fletcher. The keeper was kept busy dealing with a dangerous curling cross from Connor Smythe and then producing an excellent save to keep out a rasping 25 yard drive from Tom Dugdale. From the corner Gareth Griffiths got his header on target but it was blocked on the line.
It was by no means one way traffic though, as the home side hit back well, and a flying header from Ben Steear was acrobatically kept out by Joe Green before the Handsworth custodian then saved at point blank range from full back Richards who had sneaked in around the back of the Ambers defence. There was little respite for the visitors in this spell and in their next attack, Gate took the lead when Steear was again on the end of an excellent cross from Hall to head the home side into the lead after 26 minutes.
Handsworth re-grouped and after a free kick was awarded just outside the box, Simon Harrison’s drive was tipped over well by Fletcher. The game turned in The Ambers favour on 33 minutes when Hall was shown the red card after a clash with Kieran Wells, and within two minutes the ten men were level. Ben Starosta’s cross was nodded down by Wells at the back stick and Danny Holland was on hand to cash in.
The rest of the half was spent in the Gate half with The Ambers trying to take advantage of the extra man but the scores were level as the half time whistle blew, but within seconds of the second period starting, Holland grabbed his second as a Starosta cross fell kindly to him in the area and he stabbed the ball home.
Wells then netted from the next attack, but the whistle blew for a Holland handball in the build-up. The Ambers were playing good possession football at this point, orchestrated by Steve Warne in the middle of the park and making full use of the width of the pitch whilst trying to draw the Gate players out of position, so it was a shock when a Gate breakaway resulted in a penalty for the home side, Starosta adjudged to have committed a foul in the box. Ric Steear stepped up and confidently brought the home team level.
To their credit, The Ambers’ heads did not go down and they resorted to their patient approach to get back on top. A great opportunity was fashioned for Rippon but he poked the ball wide, as did Starosta when he found himself free in the box after a great ball through from sub Conor Higginson.
With the clock ticking down, The Ambers won a free kick on the edge of the area, and as it was cleared, Warne returned it into the danger zone where Griffiths was on hand to head home his second goal of the week. Fletcher then kept Gate in the tie as he tipped over a Wells header from a Danny Buttle cross, but from the resulting corner, the striker repeated the move and this time, the keeper had no answer as the towering header beat him all ends up.
To their credit, the ten men kept battling away but The Ambers soaked up any pressure, and in the fifth minute of added time, Buttle raced away down the right and pulled the ball across goal where sub Jon Froggatt was waiting to finish things off.
Thanks to Ian Robinson for this report.